Solar water-heating system



l April 8, 1930. H. A. WHEELER ET Ag.

SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEM Y Filed Aug. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l EGA'.

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H. A. WHEELER ET AL SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEM IFiled Aug. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Vl-"atentecl Apr. 8, 1930 PATENT OFFICE A UNITED STATES HENRY A. WHEELER, FRANK J. IBENTZ, AND JAMES L.MASON, 0F MIAMI, FLORIDA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F THREE-FOURTHS T0 SAID- FRANK J'. BENTZ AND ONE-FOURTH TO L. E.- BENTZ SOLAR WATER-HEATING SYSTEM'.

Application led August 22, 1928. Serial No. 301,370.

sure and the upper end .of the tank is provided with a hot water discharge pipe which extends to any desired point` or points and is provided with one of more hot water discharge spigots. Opening of any spigot relieves the pressure in thetank and the water under pressurefrom-thesupply pipe consequently forces hot water from the upper end of said tank as the cold water enters. This type of system operates advantageously throughout the day as long as the rays of the sun are being eiectively utilized. However', after Sundown, the running of cold water into the tankeach time hot paratus reaches the end water is withdrawn therefrom, gradually decreases the temperature of the water, with the result that there is none left for morning use. It is the'primary object of our invention however to overcome this difiiculty by providing a novel improvement, by the use of which no cold water is' admitted to the tank after the apof its heating period, until the next morning, and whereby the hot water storedin the tank over night may be withdrawn in desired quantities by gravity.l By thus preventing the entrance of cold water into the tank after the heating period is atan end, the hot water stored in the tank will remain suliciently warm over night for morning use.l Then, when the rays of the sun are again to be effectively utilized, the system is conditioned to function so that whenever hot water is withdrawn, cold water enters to take its place, and to be heated.

v .A further object of the inventionis to provide automatic means controlled by a thermostat or analogous contrivance for conditioning the apparatus both for nightfuse andday use. y

With the foregoing inview, the invention resides in the'novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being ac- 6 and 7 communicate, said pipes being concomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a perspective View partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the water heating means and 'associated'parts v A Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 3-'-3.of Fig. 2.

Figj: is a vertical sectional view through the air valve at the upper end of the water storage tank. f Y

The general construction shown in the drawings is preferably followed and while such subject matter will be herein specifically described, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may b e made. y

The numeral 5 denotes a hotwater storage tank with whichwater circulating pipesnected to the ends of a heating coil which embodies parallel pipesv 8. Ihese pipes are within a shallow flat casing 9`having a glass top 10, the entire inner side of said casing,

8 are supported by longitudinally channeled wooden strips 12 or strips of other desired material, said pipes being disposed in the with the exception of its top, being provided -with heat-insulating material 11. The pipes channels of said strips. Heat-insulating material 13 is preferably interposed between the pipes and strips toco-Operate with the latter in preventing downward loss of heat from said pipes. A metal Isheet 14 of `any desired material to readily absorb heat and conduct it to the pipes 8, is provided throughout the area of the casing 9.' This sheet is provided ywith alternate channels 15 and ridges 16', each of the latter being formed with a longitudinal slot 17. The pipes 8 are inset in these slots 9 and may be soldered or. otherwise secured to the sheet 14. f f

The construction described insures that maximum heating eiciency be obtained from the rays of the sun to heat the water in the tank 5.4

A supply pipe 18 leads to the lower por. tion of the tank 5 for supplying cold water -under pressure tothe latteras hot water is withdrawn. For purposes to appear, `this p pipe 18 terminates in an upstandingportion 19 in the lower end of the tank'5, the upper extremity of this portion 19 being closed as atv 21. These parts also function as hereinafter is a hot water discharge pipe 23leading to.

vus

explained.

Leading from the upper end of the tank 5,v

one or more spigots24. Upon opening of one of the spigots, pressure inthe tank 5 is relieved, with the result that cold water enters throughthe pipe 18 and the check valve 21, driving hot water from the top of the tank out through the discharge pipe 23. cThe hot water is discharged in this way and replaced bycold water as long as the rays of the sun can be effectively utilized for heating the water in the tank. However, provision is made wherebyA no cold water can enterthe tank after Sundown and Y whereby the hot water which is stored within such tank may be drawn from it by gravity. These ends can be obtained in various ways but the sub- P ject matter shown will sufice for illustrative purposes. v

A branch pipe 25 is connected with the hott' water discharge pipeI 23, preferably near the tank 5. This branch pipe communicates also with avvalve casing 26 with which the supply valve seats 27 and 28 have been shown, one for the supply pipe 18 and one for the branch 25. A movable valve member is pivotally mounted in the casing` 26 and embodies a valve f portion 29 co-operable with-the seat 27 and when the valve is moved to' its opposite position, it closes the seat 27 and places the branch 25 is communication with. the portionl of the pipe 18 between the valve and the tank 5. Thus,upon opening of the spigot 24, hot water from the tank will enter the pipe 18 through the check valve 22, will travel through a portion o f this pipe to they valve casing 26, and through this casing and the branch 25, will travel to the hot water discharge pipe 23 through which it is conducted to the open spigot. Thus. hot water is drawn from the tank and no cold water is admitted, flow of the latter being prevented due to closing of the valve 29 against the seat 27.

Automatic means are. provided for oper' ating the duall valve above described, said means preferablyv embodying a thermostat 31 controlled by the sun heat rather than'the water heat, together with operating connections between this thermostat and the valve. Inv the present showing, the thermostat 31 is within an offset portion 32 of the casing 9, and said thermostat controls an electric switch 33 whichpin turnI controls an electricv motor 34.' This motor is connected by a train otgearing within the housing 35, with an arm 36, and this arm has an appropriate connection 37 with an arm 38 secured to the valve 29430.v At the end of the day, when the sun heat is suiiiciently diminished, the thermostat 31, switch 33, motor 311, etc. operate to move the valve to its other position from that shown in Fig. 2, permitting drawing oil' of hot water from the tank 5 by gravity. In the morning however, when the sun heat again raises the temperature of the thermo'stat, it and associated parts again effect positioning of the valve as seen in Fig. 2,

with Athe result that teach time hot wat-er is withdrawn, cold water enters to 'take its lace. r i

Naturally,the water at'the lower end of the tank 5 is 4always at a lower temperature than that at the upper end thereof. Hence, the pipe portion 19 and the check valve 22 are provided to preventdrawing of the relatively cold water from the lower end of the pipe 18 is provided' In the Casing 26v two 'tank when the system is operating by gravity.

Then the tank 5 is being filled with water under pressure entering through the check valve 21, it 'is essential that air'l be exhausted from the upper end of said tank. Similarly,

when Wat-er is being drawn from the tank by A gravity, it is ,necessary that air be admitted to the 'upper end of the'tank. To accomplish these ends, an air valve is provided in the top of the tank or at other desired location. This valve may be'of the detailed construction shown in Fig.`4 or' of other desired form. In the view under consideration, the movable valve member 39 is closed by a float 40 when the water in the tank rises sufficiently, but as the water level recedes, the float drops and the valve is self-opening as shown in the drawing.

By the use of our improvements, we save approximately 50% of the hot Water which is being wast-ed at present with solar heating s v'stems of the type to which we have above referred. Not only do we save in hot water by'theuse of the system, but with a smaller and less expensive A,tank and water-heating means, we are ena-'bled to deliver a larger quantity of hot water. Ordinarily, an eighthundred gallon tank with six heating coils will only deliver about four-hundred gallons of hot water per day, whereas with the same size tank. we can deliver at least eight-hundred gallons of water in the same period. ln addition to operating the system in the ing hot water whenever desired, we hold over a large quantity for use on the following morning, which cannot be accomplished With thevpresent day systems.l

Attention is again invited to the fact that within. the scope of the inventionnumerous 'variations may be made, the-present disclosure being primarily for illustrative purposes.

1. In a water heating system, a closed hot water storage tank, a supply pipe leading'to said tank for supplying Water thereto under pressure while hot water is being discharged, a discharge pipe from the upper end of the tank through which hot Water may be discharged, means for preventing fiow of water `to the tank through saidsupply pipe, conducting means for permitting discharge of hot water from the tank by gravity when said How-preventing means is. close-d, anda valve for then 'admitting air tothe tank and for later venting said tank while refilling.

2. In'a water heating system, a closed hot Water'stora-ge tank, a supply pipe leading to the lower end of said tank for supplying cold water 'thereto under pressure While hot water isbeing discharged, a discharge pipe fromthe upper end -ofthe tank through which hot Water may be discharged, means for preventing flow of vcol-d water to the tank through said supplypipe and for effecting communication between said discharge pipe and the portion of the supply pipe between the flowpreventing means and the 'tank when said How-preventing means is closed, permitting' .l discharge of hot Water from the tank by gravity, and a valve for then admitting air Ato the tank and for later venting said tank while refilling. l

3. In a .water-heating system, a closed hot Waterstorage tank, a supply pipe leading to the lower end of' said tankfor supplying cold water thereto under pressure while hot water is being discharged, a discharge' pi e from the upper end of the tank through w ich hotwater may be discharged, a dual valvefor preventing flow of cold Water through-said supply pipe to the tank and for then placing said dischargeA pipe in communication with the portion of the supply pipe between the now-preventing means and the tank,A permitting discharge of hot water from the tank by gravity, and a valve for then admitting air while refilling.

4. In a water heating system, a closed hot water storage tank, a supply pipe leading to l the lower end of said tank for supplying cold water theretounder pressure while hotl water is being discharged, a discharge pipe from the water may be discharged means for preventupper end of the tank throughwhich hot.

lsupply pipe, conducting means for permitting discharge of hot water from the tank b y gravity when said'ow-preventing means 1s closed, a valve 'rthen admitting air to the tank and for later vent-ing said tank while refilling, sun-heated means for heating the water in said tank, and. heat-receiving operating means forV automatically closing said flow-preventing means ,upon predetermined Vdecrease 4in the heat impartedto said Operating means.

5. In a Water heating system, a closed hot Water'storage tank, a supply pipe leading to the lower end of said tank for supplying cold water thereto under pressure While-hot water is being discharged, a discharge pipe from the upper' end of the tank through which hot water may be discharged, means for preventv ing flow of cold water to the tank through saidsupply pipe and for effecting communi- `cationbetween said discharge pipe and the portion of the sunnly pipe between the fiowpreventing/means and the tank when said flow-preventing means is closed, permitting discharge of hot water from the tank by flow-preventing and communication-effecting means into play upon predetermined de-v crease in the heat imparted tosaid operating means. y

6. In a water heating system, a closed hot water storage tank, a supplvpipe leading to the lower end of said tank for supplying from the upper end of the tank through which hot water may be discharged, a dual valve for ating means for automatically operating said dual valve upon predetermined decrease 1n the heat imparted to said operating means..

- 7 In a solar water heating means, atank, sun-heated means for heating. the Water in -said tank, means for supplying water to the tank as hot water' isdischarged therefrom, and heat-controlled means for automatically stopping flow of Water tosaid tank upon precold-.water thereto under pressure while hot Wateris being discharged, a discharge pipe ios determined decrease in the heat imparted'to said heat-controlled means. l

8. A structure as specifiedin claim 2; said cold water supplypipe terminating in an upstanding portion disposed in the tank, said pipe vportion having an outwardly opening checkvv'alve near the tank bottom and an inwardly openingl check valve spaced above the rst named check valve, said pipe portion being otherwise out of communication with the tank.l l y 9. In a solar water heater having a waterreceiving tank and sun-heated water-heating means, thermostatic means for automatically stopping How of water to said tank upon predetermined decrease in the heat imparted to said thermostatic means.

In testimony. whereof we have hereunto axed our signatures.`

HENRY A. WHEELER.. FRANK J. BENTZ.

JAMES L. MASON. 

